Count a noun when using their etc

Question

Hi, I don't know how to express my question(s) clearly. Let's give some examples

They/We means 2 or more people

eg1. they have an operation on their face / faces ( every person only has one face, but there are more than 1 person,so face or faces? could you explain? I often get confused)

2. Sally and I want to get our bags back (sally has a bag. I have a bag.there are 2 bags in total.but that is sally/my own bag.)

3. they are calling for help and want to see their mother. (if they are all from different families,so "mother" should be mothers??)

Sorry that I can't find a good example. I hope you will understand what I don't understand.

Thanks!!

Vorpar · Accepted Answer

1: Faces. There is more than one face (though each person only has one).

2: Correct.

3: Mothers. If there is more than one mother.

CalifJim · Answer

They all have smiles on their faces. (Each has one smile.)

Each of them has a smile on his face.

Every one of them has a smile on his face.

All of the puppies were wagging their tails. (Each puppy wagged one tail.)

Each puppy was wagging its tail.

Every puppy was wagging its tail.

They all scratched their noses at the same time. (Each scratched one nose.)

Each of them scratched his nose at the same time as the others.

Every one of them scratched his nose at the same time as the others.

All of us raised our glasses for the toast. (Each raised one glass.)

Each of us raised his glass for the toast.

Every one raised his glass for the toast.

Sally and I want to get our bag back. (Sally and I together have one bag.)

Sally and I want to get our bags back.

(The bags may belong to both of us jointly

or Sally may have one or more bags and I have one or more bags.)

Ben and I went to visit our cousin. (We visited someone who was a cousin to both of us.)

Ben and I went to visit our cousins.

(We visited more than one person.

Those people were either cousins of both of us

or some were cousins of Ben and some were my cousins.)

They want to see their mother. (All of them have the same mother.)

They want to see their mothers. (Each of them wants to see his or her own mother.)

CJ

Tep Sakmakara · Answer

1- Faces is the correct one because the possesive adjective " their ".

2- If You and Sally want to get only your bag or Sally's bag, the correct answer is bag. However, I don't think you should use this sentence because it is unclear, which can lead to the doubt of the readers. I think you should use this sentence in stead. " Sally and I want to get my or her bag back ".

3- For this one, the answer should be mothers.

Englis · Answer

SORRY!!!!

Encounter questions again.

How about the sentence below:

They (goods) always have a price.

as you said, they means more than one

there are many goods, so there are more than one prices,

that should be countable and +s....

why not prices?

I don't know i should post a new thread...

hope someone will answer me.

Thanks

Englis · Answer

CalifJimThey all have smiles on their faces. (Each has one smile.)
Each of them has a smile on his face.
Every one of them has a smile on his face.

All of the puppies were wagging their tails. (Each puppy wagged one tail.)
Each puppy was wagging its tail.
Every puppy was wagging its tail.

They all scratched their noses at the same time. (Each scratched one nose.)
Each of them scratched his nose at the same time as the others.
Every one of them scratched his nose at the same time as the others.

All of us raised our glasses for the toast. (Each raised one glass.)
Each of us raised his glass for the toast.
Every one raised his glass for the toast.

Sally and I want to get our bag back. (Sally and I together have one bag.)
Sally and I want to get our bags back.
(The bags may belong to both of us jointly
or Sally may have one or more bags and I have one or more bags.)

Ben and I went to visit our cousin. (We visited someone who was a cousin to both of us.)
Ben and I went to visit our cousins.
(We visited more than one person.
Those people were either cousins of both of us
or some were cousins of Ben and some were my cousins.)

They want to see their mother. (All of them have the same mother.)
They want to see their mothers. (Each of them wants to see his or her own mother.)

CJ

I understand that now.

But how about "life" , A family have 5 members.

sentence mentions about their life...should be live or life?

Also...

apple are substitute to oranges <--- ( I know it isn't , but just suppose that it is)

thx..and could u anwer my question above this reply..

thx all!

CalifJim · Answer

englisfamily

If you use their, you're thinking about them as five separate individuals, so use lives. But I would have to see the whole sentence. Also, consider that you may have to say it in a different way so that you don't box yourself into a grammatical corner.

englisapple are substitute to oranges

You need this:
Apples can be substituted for oranges.

Or this:

An apple can be substituted for an orange.

CJ

Englis · Answer

CalifJim
englisfamily
If you use their, you're thinking about them as five separate individuals, so use lives. But I would have to see the whole sentence. Also, consider that you may have to say it in a different way so that you don't box yourself into a grammatical corner.
englisapple are substitute to oranges
You need this:
Apples can be substituted for oranges.

Or this:
An apple can be substituted for an orange.

CJ

THX for anwersing!

How about the sentence below:

They (goods) always have a price.

as you said, they means more than one

there are many goods, so there are more than one prices,

that should be countable and +s..

why not prices?

CalifJim · Answer

It's very rare to use the singular "good" in that sense. It's an unusual word in English. "goods" is a kind of collective idea, and you can think of it as a singular.

CJ

Englis · Answer

CalifJimIt's very rare to use the singular "good" in that sense. It's an unusual word in English. "goods" is a kind of collective idea, and you can think of it as a singular.

CJ

Sorry...I was not asking about Goods (some products)

I was asking there are more than 1 products

They have its own price

so...

The sentence " They always have a market price" <---I found this sentence in my Economics Book.

I thought it is wrong (although i know it is correct)

Why it should not be "they always have market prices?"

Thanks. maybe it sounds like a silly question,but it makes frustrated!! =(

CalifJim · Answer

englisI was asking there are more than 1 products

Goods can be a lot of one product or many different products. A shipment of 30 cars to a car dealership is "goods". A shipment of apples, pears, oranges, lemons, and peaches to a grocery store is "goods".

Substitute "merchandise"; it's the same thing. Anything that's sold is goods or merchandise.

Goods always have a market price = Merchandise always has a market price.

Be aware that there is no strict rule that the object has to be plural if the subject is plural.

CJ

Count a noun when using their etc

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